The bunting goes up on the recreation ground this Saturday, and Brook's summer fete returns for 2026 with a longer programme, a bigger children's area and a few extra stalls squeezed in along the boundary fence. It is still, at heart, the same afternoon it has always been: neighbours catching up on the grass, a brass band somewhere behind the tea tent, and a tombola queue that never seems to get any shorter.

If you are coming along, a little forward planning pays off. Parking fills up quickly, the dog show closes entries early, and the queue for ice cream at half past two is a genuine test of patience. Here is what you need to know before you set off.

Timings for the day

Gates open at 11am and the fete runs through until 5pm. The busiest stretch is usually between noon and 2pm, when the car park is full and the main ring has a crowd three deep around it. If you want a gentler wander around the stalls, come early or drift in after 3pm.

These are the headline times from the provisional programme. Organisers sometimes shuffle the running order on the day, so check the board by the main entrance when you arrive.

• 10.30am — car park opens. Please do not queue on the approach road before this; it blocks residents' driveways.
• 11am — gates open. Stalls, refreshments and the children's zone all live.
• 11.30am — children's races on the far side of the field, split by age group.
• 1pm — dog show in the main ring. Entries taken from 12.30pm at the ring gate.
• 2.30pm — live music from the bandstand, followed by the community choir.
• 3.30pm — grand raffle draw and the auction of donated prizes.
• 5pm — close. Help clearing away is always welcome.

What's on in the main ring

Morning

The morning belongs to the children. Races start promptly at 11.30am and are run in year groups, so it is worth arriving with a few minutes to spare and a named water bottle in hand. The sack race and the egg-and-spoon are the traditional fixtures, and the under-fives' dash is deliberately short so nobody loses heart halfway down the field.

Afternoon

The dog show takes over at 1pm. Classes cover waggiest tail, best rescue, best junior handler and, as always, the one that draws the biggest crowd — dog most like its owner. Entry is on the day and you do not need to register in advance, but be at the ring gate by 12.30pm if you want a place. Leads are required throughout, and the field gets hot by early afternoon, so bring water for your dog as well as yourself.

Music follows at 2.30pm, with the bandstand hosting local players before the community choir closes the live programme. Bring a folding chair if you plan to settle in for it; seating is limited and goes quickly.

Stalls and the village market

The stall line-up is broadly what regulars will recognise, with a few additions. The cake stall, the plant stall and the second-hand book table are all back, alongside the craft tent where local makers sell ceramics, candles and textiles. A handful of growers from the allotments are running a produce table for the first time this year, selling whatever has survived the slugs.

Two practical notes. First, several of the smaller stalls still run on cash only, so tuck a few notes in your pocket even if you plan to pay by card elsewhere. Second, stallholders generally start packing down around 4.30pm, so if you have your eye on something specific, buy it when you see it rather than promising yourself you will come back later.

Food and drink

The tea tent does hot drinks, cake and sandwiches all afternoon and is the cheapest way to feed a family on the field. The burger van and the wood-fired pizza stall sit near the main entrance, and there is a licensed bar in the corner of the field serving until 4.45pm.

Queues peak between 12.30pm and 1.30pm, so eat early or late if you can. Seating is a mix of trestle tables and hay bales; a picnic blanket is never a bad idea. If you or anyone in your group has a food allergy, ask the stall directly rather than relying on the menu board — the smaller vans are usually happy to talk you through what is in each dish.

For families with younger children

The children's zone sits at the quieter end of the field, away from the main ring and the music. It includes a soft play corner for toddlers, a craft table, face painting and a small bouncy castle with timed sessions to stop the queue getting out of hand.

A few things worth knowing if you are bringing little ones:

• Pushchair access is good on the main paths but the grass can be soft near the trees after rain. Wellies are forgiven.
• The lost child point is the tea tent. Write your mobile number on your child's wristband if they are likely to wander.
• Sunscreen and hats are worth packing even when the forecast looks grey — the field has very little shade after midday.
• There are baby changing facilities in the village hall, which will be open throughout.

Parking, travel and accessibility

Parking is the one part of the day that regularly causes friction, so please follow the marshals rather than your satnav. The main car park opens at 10.30am and fills within about an hour. Overflow parking is on the far side of the recreation ground, reached via the second field gate, and there is a designated drop-off point near the main entrance for anyone with limited mobility.

1. Follow the yellow event signs rather than your phone — several side roads are closed to through traffic for the afternoon.
2. Have your payment ready at the gate to keep the queue moving.
3. Park tidily within the marked bays. Do not park on verges or across field gates; emergency access must stay clear.
4. Leave the car park by the exit route marked on your ticket, not back through the entrance.

If you live nearby, walking or cycling is by far the easiest option, and there is a bike rack beside the village hall. Blue badge holders can be dropped at the main gate, and the field itself is level once you are through it, though the grass can be uneven in the far corners. Wheelchair users may find the hardstanding route past the hall easier than crossing the middle of the field.

Before you set off

Pack for a British summer: a hat, a light waterproof, cash for the smaller stalls and a bag for anything you buy. Charge your phone if you are meeting people there, and agree a meeting point in advance — the bandstand is as good as any.

One last thing. The fete is run entirely by volunteers, and the same dozen people set up at eight in the morning and clear up long after the last stall has gone. If you can spare half an hour at the end of the day to help stack tables or collect litter, say so at the tea tent. It makes next year's event that much easier to put on.

Photo: Couleur / Pixabay